Horizontal Product Distribution System Using Static Baffles In A Distributor

ABSTRACT

The present invention is directed to an applicator having an agricultural product mechanical and/or pneumatic conveying system which transfers particulate material from one or more source containers to application equipment on demand, and meters the material at the application equipment. The conveying system includes a static distributor interconnecting the supply lines of the conveying system with the distribution lines connected to the individual nozzles. The static distributor includes internal structures that effectively divert the incoming particulate material evenly across the interior of the static distributor such that the particulate material is evenly distributed into each of the distribution lines. The static distributor accomplishes this without the need for any moving parts or control systems/devices. In addition, damage done to the particulate material flowing through the distributor is not high, and the operation of the distributor creates a lower pressure drop across the distributor than prior art vertical distributors.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present invention relates generally to agricultural equipment, and,more particularly, to an agricultural product delivery system on anapplication implement, such as a planter or fertilizer applicationequipment, for applying particulate material such as seed, fertilizer,herbicide or insecticide in a field, either as a surface application ordeposited in the soil to improve soil quality.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Agricultural product delivery systems are known to utilize variousmechanisms, including mechanical and/or pneumatic systems, i.e., a flowof air, to assist in the delivery and movement of particulate materialor product such as fertilizer, seed, insecticide or herbicide from aproduct supply chamber through an interior passage provided by a seriesof elongate tubes which extend from the product supply chamber to aproduct applicator that places the product on or in growing medium, suchas soil. Such agricultural product delivery systems are commonlyemployed in planters, air drills, fertilizer and pesticide applicatorsand a variety of other agricultural implements.

Agricultural implements that employ an agricultural product deliverysystem are known to have a particulate material supply source such asone or more tanks that are loaded with the particulate material ormaterials to be applied. The tanks have or are associated with ametering device, which typically consists of a rotating element, whichmeters the particulate materials from the tanks into a set ofdistribution channels, such as conduits, hoses, etc., for application tothe farm field. In most systems, a pneumatic source such as a fan orblower provides air to convey and distribute material through thedistribution channels. Once the metering of particulates is done and themix of air and particulates is in the distribution channels, the solidconcentration should remain nearly constant and in dilute phase.

Systems as described have provided certain advantages and have workedacceptably in some aspects, but are not without disadvantages,inefficiencies or inconveniences. For example, it is desirable to use amaterial supply source, such as a tank, with different applicatorequipment by, for example, coupling the tanks with a planter forplanting seed, and later coupling the same tank equipment with anapplicator for applying needed pesticides and/or fertilizer.

One issue that arises with the different types of particulate materialto be distributed from the system is the ability of the system toadequately distribute the particulate material of whatever types isbeing applied evenly through the various distribution channels andnozzles of the applicator. This problem arises due to the differenttypes of particulate material being applied and due to operationalchanges including additional particulate material(s) to be dispensed andturning compensations, among others.

What is needed in the art is an agricultural product conveying systemwhich improves efficiency and convenience of the applicator to moreevenly distribute the particulate material being dispensed from theconveying system without further complicating its construction.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, an applicatorincludes an agricultural product conveying system which transfersparticulate material from one or more source containers to applicationequipment on demand, and meters the material at the applicationequipment. The pneumatic and/or mechanical conveying system employslongitudinal tubes or conduits that operate pneumatically with apressurized air flow and/or mechanically with mechanical devices to moveand mix the particulate material from one of the source containers ortanks along the conveying system. In the conveying system, theparticulate materials, if more than one is present, are blended, and isevenly distributed amongst the individual distribution lines andnozzles. The conveying system has a simplified construction andoperation in comparison to prior art systems.

To evenly distribute the particulate material between the variousdistribution lines and nozzles, the conveying system includes a staticdistributor interconnecting the supply lines of the conveying systemwith the distribution lines connected to the individual nozzles. Thestatic distributor includes internal structures that effectively divertthe incoming particulate material evenly across the interior of thestatic distributor such that the particulate material is evenlydistributed into each of the distribution lines. The static distributoraccomplishes this without the need for any moving parts or controlsystems/devices, such that the operation of the static distributorgreatly simplifies the construction and operation of the conveyingsystem from prior art systems. In addition, due to the construction ofthe distributor, damage done to the particulate material flowing throughthe distributor is not high, and the operation of the distributorcreates a lower pressure drop across the distributor than prior artvertical distributors.

According to another aspect of the invention, an agricultural productdelivery system, includes at least one particulate material supplycompartment, at least one particle delivery unit for applyingparticulate material from the supply compartment, a conveying systemproviding a flow of particulate material from the at least oneparticulate material supply compartment along at least one supply lineto the at least one particle delivery unit and at least one staticdistributor connected between the at least one supply line and the atleast one particulate delivery unit, wherein the static distributor doesnot include any moving parts

According to another aspect of the invention, a static distributor foran agricultural product delivery system includes a housing having aninlet and a number of outlets spaced from the inlet and defining a flowchannel therebetween with a central axis through the housing and anumber of baffles disposed within the housing at angles with respect tothe central axis of the housing.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, a method ofdelivering a number of agricultural products from a number ofcompartments containing the number of products to a delivering unit toapply the products in a field includes the steps of supplying the numberof agricultural products from the number of particulate material supplycompartments to a conveying system, mixing the agricultural product in astatic distributor in the conveying system to form a mixed product,wherein the static distributor has no moving parts, conveying the mixedproduct to the delivering unit and applying the mixed product from thedelivering unit onto an agricultural field.

Numerous additional objects, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will be made apparent from the following detailed descriptiontaken together with the drawing figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings illustrate the best mode of practicing the presentdisclosure.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an agricultural application implement, inthe nature of a fertilizer spreader, having a conveying system accordingto one exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the fertilizer spreader shown in FIG.1

FIG. 3 is bottom plan view of the conveying system according anotherexemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a conveying system on a fertilizerspreader according to another exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a static distributor connected between asupply line and a distribution line of the conveying system of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the static distributor of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an inlet end elevation view of the static distributor of FIG.6.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the static distributor of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a static distributor according toanother exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 10 is an isometric view of a static distributor according toanother exemplary embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1-3, thereis shown an agricultural application implement 10, on which a pneumaticconveying system 100 can be used. In the exemplary embodiment shown,application implement 10 is a granular fertilizer applicator 10. As isknown in the art, applicator 10 generally includes a large tiredtransport unit 12 such as truck or tractor, and laterally extendingparticle delivery booms 14 and 16, which may be pivoted to a stowedposition close to the implement for storage or transport. Each boom 14,16 includes a plurality of boom tubes or conduits terminating at theoutboard end in a particle delivering unit, which for fertilizerapplicator 10 are a spreading outlet or nozzle. In the exemplaryembodiment shown, boom 14 can include from eight to sixteen, and in theillustrated exemplary embodiment includes ten nozzles 18, 19, 20, 22,24, 26, 28, 29, 30 and 32; and boom 16 can include from eight tosixteen, and in the illustrated exemplary embodiment includes tennozzles 34, 35, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 45, 46 and 48. Additionally, at theback of applicator 10 there are between four to six and in theillustrated exemplary embodiment, five rear nozzles 50, 52, 54, 56 and58 to provide full and complete coverage across the width of implement10, include the area between the inboard-most nozzles 32 and 34 of booms14, 16. Implement transport unit 12 is self-propelled by an engine in anengine compartment 59 and includes an operator cab 60. In the exemplaryembodiment shown, an uncovered tank 62 includes compartments 66 and 70for carrying particulate material to be distributed to and disbursed bynozzles 18-58. Further smaller compartments 64, 68 can be provided tosupply micro-nutrients or other materials to nozzles 18-58. The supplyof particulate in compartments 64, 66, 68, 70 is replenishedperiodically from a still larger volume supply vehicle (not shown).

Fertilizer applicator 10 is illustrative of the types of equipment forwhich the conveying system 100 can be used; however, it should beunderstood that the conveying system 100 may, of course, be employed inconjunction with other agricultural equipment such as tillage, seedingor planting devices, and is useful in distributing particulate materialother than fertilizer.

Looking now at FIGS. 1-3, in the illustrated exemplary embodiment thecompartments 64-70 of the tank 62 are each disposed directly above theconveying system or assembly 100, which is a pneumatic conveying system100. The system 100 includes five large diameter supply lines 102, whichin certain exemplary embodiments are between 3″-10″ in diameter, and inother exemplary embodiments are between 4.5″-5″ in diameter, that extendfrom a plenum 104 at one end, under the compartments 64-70 and terminateat the booms 14, 16 or at the rear nozzles 50-58. At the booms 14, 16,the supply lines 102 and the particulate material or product transportedtherein can be split by a suitable distribution structure or mechanism107, such as a static distributor(s) 108, among or into a number ofsecondary or smaller distribution lines 106, which in certain exemplaryembodiments are between 1.5″-4″ in diameter, and in other exemplaryembodiments are between 2.5″-3″ in diameter, that are connected to thenozzles 18-58 opposite the distributor 108.

To collect and drive the particulate material along the lines 102, inthe illustrated embodiment one or more fans 110 are operably connectedto the plenum 104 opposite the lines 102. The air flow from the fans 110is directed from the fans 110 through the plenum 104 and into therespective lines 102 as a result of the structure of the plenum 104.After the air flow passes through the one or more plenums 104 connectedto the one or more fans 110 and collects/entrains the particulatematerial from the compartments 64-70 in a manner to be described, theair flow continues to flow along each of the four (4) large diameterlines 102 that make approximately a 90° turn to connect to the booms 14,16.

In order to spread the particulate material/product over/onto the centersection over which the machine 10 passes, a large line 102 must moveproduct to the rear nozzles 50-58 where there is no interference by themachine 10 on the spread pattern. To accomplish this a line 102 carryingonly air is added on the side of the machine 10 and has a forwardsection 105 that extends from the plenum 104 to the front of the machine10. At the front of the machine 10, one particular line 102 turns 180°and has a rearward section 109 that passes beneath the compartments64-70 where the line 102 collects the particulate material/product andtransports the product to the nozzles 50-58 at the rear of the machine10.

In an alternative exemplary embodiment, it is contemplated that theconveying system 100 can be formed, optionally in conjunction with thepneumatic conveying system, with one or more mechanical conveyors (notshown) take the form of one or more augers (not shown) that are disposedwithin the lines 102 and encircle the auger(s) along their length. Theaugers are each operably connected to a motor (not shown) that causesthe augers to rotate within the respective lines 102, moving theparticulate material in conjunction with the air flow through the lines102. The operation of the motor can be controlled to control the speedof rotation of the augers, either collectively or independently from oneanother, such that the speed of the conveying system 100 can be variedas desired but not to meter the product(s).

Looking now at FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, in the illustrated exemplary embodimentthe plenums 104 provide airflow from the fans 110 to all five lines 102of the system 100, with one plenum 104 connected to the two (2) outsidelines 102, with the other plenum 104 supplying the air flow to thecenter three (3) lines 102. The lines 102 are split in this fashionbecause of the higher pressure drop associated with the outermost lines102 as a result of their length. With only the two higher pressure linessupplied by one plenum 104, it allows the fan 110 connected to thelonger lines 102 to supply a higher pressure airflow through these lines102 since less airflow is required for two lines 102 vs three lines 102.In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the two fans 110 and associatedplenums 104 are stacked vertically with respect to one another. Howevera different configuration can be utilized where the fans 110 and plenums104 are arranged in the same horizontal plane in order to minimize thespace requirements, with the plenums 104 also optionally being rotated90° from the illustrated configuration.

The particulate material/product contained within each of thecompartments 64-70 of the tank 62 is introduced into the airflow in thevarious lines 102 via an airtight inline product metering system 111,that is formed of a number of metering devices 112 driven by motors 114that function to meter the product flowing from the compartments 64-70into each line 102.

Referring now to FIGS. 5-8, in the illustrated exemplary embodiment, astatic distributor 108 is connected between each supply line 102 and theassociated distribution lines 106, and is constructed to not include anyparts that move during operation of the distributor 108. Theconfiguration of the static distributor 108 is generally planar suchthat the distributor 108 places all the distribution lines 106 on thesame horizontal plane in the same axis as the flow of particulatematerial from the supply line 102. The distributor 108 includes an inlet120 connected to the supply line 102, a housing 122 that extends from anarrow end 124 at the inlet 120 to a wide end 126 opposite the inlet 120and a number of separate outlets 128 connected to and extendingoutwardly from the housing 122 at the wide end 126. The housing 122defines a flow channel 123 from narrow end 124 to the wide end 126. Theinlet 120 has a diameter approximately equal to that of the supply 102,and the outlets 128 each have diameters approximately equal to that ofthe distribution lines 106 in order to enable the outlets 128 to beconnected to each of the distribution lines 106 in a known manner.

Looking in particular at the illustrated exemplary embodiments of FIGS.7 and 8, the housing 122 includes a number of baffles 130 disposedtherein within the flow channel 123 defined by the housing 122. Thebaffles 130 can be connected to the housing 122 in any suitable manner,such as by welding or by suitable fasteners 131, to extend across theinterior 132 of the housing 122 thereby enabling the baffles 130 todeflect the incoming particulate material from the inlet 120. Thebaffles 130 can have any desired configuration and angular orientationrelative to the housing 122, and in the illustrated embodiment are shownto be disposed vertically within and across the interior 132 of thehousing 122, with the baffles 130 disposed at an angle θ with regard tothe central axis 134 of the housing 122 extending between the narrow end124 and the wide end 126. This configuration for the baffles 130 directsthe incoming flow of particulate material across the interior 132 of thehousing 122 to more evenly distribute the particulate material into eachof the outlets 128.

In an alternative exemplary embodiment of the housing 122 shown in FIG.9, additional baffles 136-140 are disposed within the housing 122 toseparate particulate material flow higher up and into each of the five(5) outlets 128 compared to the double baffles 130 illustrated in FIG.8. The first or separating baffle 136 extends into the interior 132 ofthe housing from the narrow end 124 or inlet 120, optionally along thecentral axis 134, and is used to initially divide the particulatematerial flow 142 entering the inlet 120 into two even streams 144. Thesecond baffles 138 extend inwardly from between adjacent outlets 128 andare spaced apart from one another at an angle θ₂ with regard to thecentral axis 134. The second baffles 138 separate approximately twentypercent (20%) of each of streams 144 forming one-fifth of the entireincoming particulate material flow 142, to the central axis 134 betweenbaffles 138 while diverting the remainder of the streams 144 outside ofthe baffles 138. The remaining particulate material in each of the twostreams 144 is approximately divided in half by the baffles 140 thatextend inwardly from adjacent outlets 128 and are spaced from thebaffles 138 at an angle θ₃ relative to the central axis 134 that isdifferent than that of the baffles 138, resulting in approximatelytwenty percent (20%) of the total incoming particulate material 142being directed by the distributor 108 into every outlet 128 andassociated distribution line 106.

This design of the distributor 108 in FIG. 9 has more wear items. i.e.,extra baffles 136-140 and a compounding error, in that any error in thefirst split of the incoming particulate material flow 142 by baffle 136is carried thorough to all subsequent streams 144. However, the staticdistributor 108 can achieve a better distribution of the particulatematerial flow 142 with different line resistances. i.e., from thedifferent lengths of distribution lines 106. The static distributor 108in any embodiment can accommodate more or less distribution lines 106 bychanging the width and baffle position and angle(s) in order to maintaina desired distribution across each of the outlets 128 to thedistribution lines 106.

In addition, different particulate materials/products and different flowrates of those materials/products may change the distribution across theoutlets 128 regardless of the configuration of the baffles 130, 136-140.For example, lighter particulate materials/products, and/or lowerthroughputs/flow rates tend to stay suspended in the airstream withinthe supply lines 102, whereas heavier particulate materials/products andhigher throughputs/flow rates tend to remain on the bottom of the supplylines 102.

To address the issue with heavier materials and/or lower flow rates, asbest shown in the exemplary illustrated embodiment of FIG. 5, a dimpletube 150 can be disposed immediately upstream of the inlet 120 for thedistributor 108. The configuration of the dimple tube 150 is generallycylindrical in shape and includes and inlet end 152 connected to thesupply line 102 and an outlet end 154 connected to the inlet 120 of thedistributor 108. Between the inlet end 152 and the outlet end 154 thedimple tube 150 includes a number of inwardly extending projections ordimples 156 disposed on or formed integrally with an interior surface(not shown) of the tube 150. The incoming particulate material flow 142contacts one or more of the dimples 156 within the tube 150 and is thusdeflected inwardly toward the central axis of the tube 150, therebyrandomizing the particulate material product flow 142 prior to enteringthe static distributor 108 and reducing any negative effects of higherthroughput and increased particulate material/product weight or density.

In other exemplary embodiments, the pattern or configuration of thedimples 156 within the dimple tube 150 and/or the length of the tube 150can be changed in order to accommodate space constraints and improve therandomization of the particulate material flow 142 through the tube 150.

In addition to the use of the dimple tube 150, within the distributor108 the angles, spread, and length of the baffles 130, 136-140 can bechanged in order to improve the distribution to each of the outlets 128.For example, increasing the angle of the baffles 130, 136-140 relativeto the central axis 134 of the housing 122, the resulting direction ofthe particulate material flow 142 increases throughput to the outermostoutlets 128. Conversely, increasing the spread or distance betweenbaffles 130 of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 8, or the baffles 138 ofthe exemplary embodiment of FIG. 9, increases throughput along thecentral axis 134 to the center outlets 128. Also, in another exemplaryembodiment, the baffles 130, 136-140 can be configured to be laterallyadjustable and/or pivotable with regard to the housing 122 in order toenable the configuration of the baffles 130, 136-140 within a singledistributor 108 to be altered for different throughput and/orparticulate material/product weight or density, as well as to adjust thethroughput of the distributor 108 towards or away from the centraloutlets 128, as desired.

Referring now to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 10, theorientation of the outlets 128 on the housing 122 can be altered. Inthis configuration, the outlets 128 can extend outwardly from thehousing 122 at an angle with regard to one another and with regard tothe central axis 134. Such that some of the outlets 128 are angledupwardly with regard to the housing 122 and other outlets 128 can beangled downwardly with regard to the housing 122. In the exemplaryembodiment of FIG. 10, the outlets 128 are alternately angled upwardlyand downwardly which provides the housing 122 with a staggeredarrangement for the outlets 128 that enables the distribution lines 106to be connected closer to one another, resulting in a narrower profilefor the distributor 108.

While the conveying system 100 including the static distributor 108disclosed so far herein have been primarily with respect to pneumaticand/or mechanical fertilizer application equipment or applicatorcommonly referred to as a “floater”, it should be understood that theadvantages from the conveying system 100 including the staticdistributor 108 disclosed herein can be obtained on other types ofequipment for applying particulate materials in a field. Planters ofvarious types are known to include an applicator unit, such as a drillor seeder, and may include an air cart having one or more bulk tankscarrying fertilizer and/or seeds to be planted. The conveying system 100including the static distributor 108 disclosed herein can be provided onthe planter, and one or more air/seed inductors on the air cart. If theair cart is then used with a planter of a different type, or withanother type of particle application equipment, adjustments to theconveying system 100 including the static distributor 108 can be madewithout the need to adjust the air/seed inductor assembly on the aircart. Accordingly, switching from one crop to another crop or from oneplanter to another planter does not require major adjustment of the airseed inductor assembly on the air cart.

In using a conveying system 100 as disclosed herein, a variety ofmaterials can be applied by a variety of different implements. Theparticulate material to be applied is contained in one or morecompartments. The particulate material or materials are supplied fromthe tanks to the conveying system 100 wherein the material or materialsare conveyed to one or more particle injectors while being intermixedwith one another. At the particle injector the conveyed product orproducts are provided in a metered flow and transferred to one or moreparticle delivery unit, which can be a broadcast spreader, seeder fordepositing seeds or other materials across the surface of soil, a rowopener unit for depositing seeds or other material in rows, or the like.

Various other alternatives are contemplated as being within the scope ofthe following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claimingthe subject matter regarded as the invention.

1. An agricultural product delivery system, comprising: at least oneparticulate material supply compartment; at least one particle deliveryunit for applying particulate material from the supply compartment; aconveying system providing a flow of particulate material from the atleast one particulate material supply compartment along at least onesupply line to the at least one particle delivery unit; and at least onestatic distributor connected between the at least one supply line andthe at least one particulate delivery unit, wherein the staticdistributor does not include any moving parts.
 2. The agriculturalproduct delivery system of claim 1, wherein the at least one staticdistributor comprises: a housing having an inlet and a number of outletsspaced from the inlet and defining a flow channel therebetween with acentral axis through the housing; and a number of baffles disposedwithin the housing at angles with respect to the central axis of thehousing.
 3. The agricultural product delivery system of claim 2, whereinthe baffles are adjustable with respect to the housing.
 4. Theagricultural product delivery system of claim 2, wherein the bafflesextend across an interior of the housing.
 5. The agricultural productdelivery system of claim 2, wherein the baffles comprise: a first pairof baffles disposed within the housing at a first angle with respect tothe central axis; and a second pair of baffles spaced from the firstpair of baffles and disposed at a second angle with respect to thecentral axis.
 6. The agricultural product delivery system of claim 5,wherein each of the first pair of baffles and the second pair of bafflesextend into the housing from between adjacent outlets.
 7. Theagricultural product delivery system of claim 6, further comprising aseparating baffle spaced from the first pair of baffles and the secondpair of baffles.
 8. The agricultural product delivery system of claim 7,wherein the separating baffle extends inwardly from the inlet of thehousing.
 9. The agricultural product delivery system of claim 8, whereinthe discharge channel includes one or more baffles therein.
 10. Theagricultural product delivery system of claim 2, further comprising pairof baffles disposed within the interior of the housing.
 11. Theagricultural product delivery system of claim 2, wherein the number ofoutlets extend outward from the housing at angles with regard to thecentral axis of the housing.
 12. The agricultural product deliverysystem of claim 11, wherein the number of outlets extend outward fromthe housing at angles with regard to one another.
 13. The agriculturalproduct delivery system of claim 2 further comprising a dimple tubeconnected to the inlet of the housing.
 14. A static distributor for anagricultural product delivery system, the distributor comprising: ahousing having an inlet and a number of outlets spaced from the inletand defining a flow channel therebetween with a central axis through thehousing; and a number of baffles disposed within the housing at angleswith respect to the central axis of the housing.
 15. The staticdistributor of claim 14, wherein the baffles are adjustable with respectto the housing.
 16. The static distributor of claim 14, wherein thestatic distributor does not include any moving parts.
 17. The staticdistributor of claim 16, further comprising: a first pair of bafflesdisposed within the housing at a first angle with respect to the centralaxis; a second pair of baffles spaced from the first pair of baffles anddisposed at a second angle with respect to the central axis; and aseparating baffle spaced from the first pair of baffles and the secondpair of baffles.
 18. The static distributor of claim 16, furthercomprising a pair of baffles disposed within the housing at an anglewith respect to the central axis.
 19. A method of delivering a number ofagricultural products from a number of compartments containing thenumber of products to a delivering unit to apply the products in afield, the method comprising the steps of: supplying the number ofagricultural products from the number of particulate material supplycompartments to a conveying system; mixing the agricultural product in astatic distributor in the conveying system to form a mixed product,wherein the static distributor has no moving parts; conveying the mixedproduct to the delivering unit; and applying the mixed product from thedelivering unit onto an agricultural field.
 20. The method of claim 19,wherein the static distributor includes a housing having an inlet and anumber of outlets spaced from the inlet and defining a flow channeltherebetween with a central axis through the housing and a number ofbaffles disposed within the housing at angles with respect to thecentral axis of the housing, and wherein the step of mixing theagricultural product comprises directing the agricultural productthrough the housing into contact with the number of baffles to separatethe product between the number of outlets.